Space Engineers Dedicated Server: Admin Commands & SpaceEngineers-Dedicated.cfg Guide
Data Verified: May 2026Definitive Space Engineers DSI guide. Configure SpaceEngineers-Dedicated.cfg, Sandbox_config.sbc, manage Workshop mods, and size hardware for stable multi-grid PCU-heavy servers.
Commands & configuration database
| Command | Default Value | Description | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
ServerName | Space Engineers DS | Public server name shown in the in-game browser. | |
WorldName | Star System | Display name of the loaded world. | |
Scenario | Empty World | Scenario template loaded on first start (Star System, Earth-like, Empty, etc). | |
MaxPlayers | 16 | Maximum concurrent players allowed on the server. | |
GameMode | Survival | Survival or Creative game mode. | |
OnlineMode | PUBLIC | Visibility: PUBLIC, FRIENDS, PRIVATE, or OFFLINE. | |
EnableCopyPaste | false | Allows players (admins only by default) to use Ctrl-C/Ctrl-V on grids. | |
TotalPCU | 100000 | Total PCU budget for the entire world, the primary performance lever. | |
BlockLimitsEnabled | PER_PLAYER | How block limits are enforced: PER_PLAYER, PER_FACTION, or NONE. | |
AutoSaveInMinutes | 5 | Minutes between automatic world saves. | |
SyncDistance | 3000 | Range in metres that physics/blocks are synced to clients. | |
ViewDistance | 15000 | Range in metres that grids are visible to clients. | |
RemoteApiEnabled | false | Enables the HTTPS Remote API used for external admin tools. |
Showing 13 of 13 configuration parameters.
| Command | Default Value | Description | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
!admin help | N/A | In-game admin chat command: lists available admin commands. | |
!admin kick <name> | N/A | Kicks the named player from the server. | |
!admin ban <steamID> | N/A | Bans the player by Steam ID. | |
!admin save | N/A | Forces an immediate world save. | |
!admin shutdown <minutes> | N/A | Schedules a graceful shutdown with broadcast warnings. | |
!admin cleanup trash | N/A | Removes orphaned grids flagged as trash by the cleanup rules. | |
/gps | N/A | Manages GPS markers for the calling admin/player. |
Showing 7 of 7 admin console commands.
Recommended hosting providers
Vetted hosts with one-click Space Engineers installs. Links are affiliate placeholders and marked rel="sponsored".
One-click Space Engineers installs with web-based world config editor and Workshop mod auto-updates.
Visit Nitrado →High-clock plans tuned for SE's physics simulation cost; cheap PCU-light entry tier.
Visit GTXGaming →Dedicated nodes ideal for high-PCU servers with large mod loadouts and active factions.
Visit Host Havoc →Hardware specifications
Sizing guidance for self-hosting a Space Engineers dedicated server.
| Tier | Specification | Use case |
|---|---|---|
| Small (1-8 players) | 6 GB RAM / 2-core 3.5 GHz+ CPU | Vanilla Star System, light PCU. Idles around 4 GB. |
| Standard (8-16 players) | 12 GB RAM / 4-core 4.0 GHz+ CPU / NVMe SSD | Active server with light mods. NVMe drastically improves world save cycles. |
| Heavy / Modded (16+) | 16-32 GB RAM / 6-core 4.5 GHz+ Dedicated Node | High PCU + large mod packs. Single-thread clock dominates sim speed. |
Default file locations
Default installation paths for Space Engineers dedicated servers installed via SteamCMD.
Windows
C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\SpaceEngineersDedicated\Linux
/home/steam/spaceengineers/Pro-Tip: Always stop the server completely before editing configuration files, or the server will overwrite your changes upon restart.
Default ports for port forwarding
Open these on your router and firewall before exposing the server to the internet.
| Service | Protocol | Port |
|---|---|---|
| Game Port | UDP | 27016 |
| Query Port | UDP | 27016 |
| RCON / Telnet | TCP | 8080 (Remote API) |
Quick start: launch your Space Engineers server
Copy-paste these two commands to install and start a Space Engineers dedicated server. Tested against SteamCMD on a fresh box.
Step 1, Install via SteamCMDSteam App ID 298740
# Keen Software House does not ship a native Linux dedicated server.Step 2, Launch the Space Engineers server
# Linux operators run the Windows server under WINE or use Torch (a community wrapper).Note: Most large SE communities run Torch on Windows Server for plugin support.
Step 1, Install via SteamCMDSteam App ID 298740
steamcmd +force_install_dir "C:\seserver" +login anonymous +app_update 298740 validate +quitStep 2, Launch the Space Engineers server
C:\seserver\DedicatedServer64\SpaceEngineersDedicated.exe -consoleFrequently asked questions
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Host your own Space Engineers server
All hosting guides →Step-by-step install and deploy walkthroughs (panels, ports, RAM sizing). Pair these with the command reference above.